Elizabeth Thomas, the poet who runs www.upwordspoetry.com, visited my school and gave a workshop for the English Department that I thought was just wonderful. She got us up and working on our own little poems and really refreshed the untalented but idealistic poet in me. Ms. Thomas travels around the country to work with students and teachers to bring poetry into students' lives. She is also one of the first organizers of the national Poetry Slam (check out her website for more info). The following are some of the ideas she shared with us to get students interested in poetry again:
Write a poem based on what color you would be if you could be a color (based on personality, activity, etc.)? Don't tell them that this is a poem because it can start off as prose and then you can instruct the students to find a poem within their writing (a Found Poem).
Same as above, but what animal would you be?
Same as above, but what inanimate object would you be?
What would your perfect day be like.
A two or three voiced poem based on any topic (have two or three students construct it together and read together or switching off).
Alphabet poem - one word for each letter of the alphabet - the hard part is having it make sense, especially when you get to the XYZ. (One group in my workshop came up with a great one).
If anyone would like to add more ideas for poetry, please do so.
If anyone would like to add more ideas for poetry, please do so.